Help protect a Minnesota species in decline!

Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are aerial insectivores whose populations are dropping. Because they rely on human-built structures for nesting and roosting, the Twin Cities area and surrounding regions are ideal for observing and protecting them.

This year, the University of Minnesota (UBC) is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Services Migratory Birds, and the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge to gather vital ecology data through community science.

Join us this August and September to observe these spectacular birds!

Help protect a Minnesota species in decline!

Chimney Swifts (Chaetura pelagica) are aerial insectivores whose populations are dropping. Because they rely on human-built structures for nesting and roosting, the Twin Cities area and surrounding regions are ideal for observing and protecting them.

This year, the University of Minnesota (UBC) is partnering with the Department of Natural Resources, Fish & Wildlife Services Migratory Birds, and the MN Valley National Wildlife Refuge to gather vital ecology data through community science.

Join us this August and September to observe these spectacular birds!

Nature has the powerful ability to restore our mind, body and soul.  This will be a casual birding hike.  We will focus on deep breathing, mindfulness and listening to nature.

Let’s slow down and enjoy the birds!

Come join us for Birds & Brew!  Meet up with fellow bird nerds! Talk about which Warbler was your favorite this past spring migration and what birds you want to add to your life list.

Come join us for Birds & Brew!  Meet up with fellow bird nerds! Talk about which Warbler was your favorite this past spring migration and what birds you want to add to your life list.

As part of a grant, Wood Lake has received funding to enhance a section of forest with native woodland flowers, grasses, and sedges. With your help, small potted plants will be transplanted and watered in order to increase the diversity of plants in the park. This enhancement will benefit birds and other wildlife that call Wood Lake home!

Come learn more about the fascinating story of Purple Martins in Minnesota. Angela Grill, Wildlife Supervisor at Three Rivers Parks, will present about the unique bird and the houses where they live.

Following the presentation in the French Visitor Center we will walk along a paved path to the purple martin houses near Medicine Lake (about 10-minute walk). You can observe the birds feeding on insects above the water and listen to their bubbly calls and songs.

Join us for a program introducing chimney swifts and their life history, natural history, and some of the remaining mysteries we are striving to uncover. Stay for a chimney swift count as they descend into their chimney at dusk.

Join us as we enjoy spring birdwatching at the feeder, adjacent fields, and nearby overlook.

This outing is appropriate for birders with a range of mobility challenges including birders who use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, as well as those who walk slowly, but all birders are welcome. We expect to see many species of bird at close range. All birders from beginner to experienced are welcome.

Join us to learn about the advantages of birding by bike and explore the habitats of Hyland Lake Park Reserve in Bloomington!

This outing is appropriate for all birders.

Did you know, listening to birds improves mental health?

We will concentrate on listening, finding the bird with our binoculars, and noticing field marks for identification. If we still can’t identify the bird we will use our apps and field guides.

Songbird populations are declining. We will discuss the importance of providing a place for migrating birds to rest, nest and find food.

Enjoy a spring morning as we search for migrating warbles and other songbirds. No experience needed, this walk is for all nature lovers. Migration season (late march to early June) is a birding highlight!  Many species of birds pass through the Mississippi Flyway on their way to nesting grounds further north. The Mississippi Flyway is a bird migration route that generally follows the Mississippi, Missouri, and Lower Ohio Rivers in the United States. Join us for some springtime birding fun. 

Join us as we enjoy spring birdwatching at the feeder, adjacent fields, and nearby overlook.

This outing is appropriate for birders with a range of mobility challenges including birders who use wheelchairs, walkers, or canes, as well as those who walk slowly, but all birders are welcome. We expect to see many species of bird at close range. All birders from beginner to experienced are welcome.

Determining whether a wild bird needs help can sometimes leave you scratching your head. This presentation will cover common scenarios that lead people to call the Wildlife Rehabilitation Center (WRC) for advice, from broken bones to grounded fledglings to nests in hazardous locations. You will learn how to help wild birds in need, when to leave them alone, and how WRC helps their avian patients take flight.

Join our LLBA bird walk in Veterans Park on Thursday, May 14 at 8 am. We will focus on looking and listening for warblers and other birds which have migrated into Vets Park. We hope to identify several kinds of warblers.

In the Spring Woodcocks perform their mating dance called sky dance of the Timberdoodle.  If our group is fortunate, we will see the sky dance performance. 

This outing is geared toward people who are curious about herons and their wee ones, those who enjoy water birds, and is especially great for people who are still learning how to spot birds; you will have great views of herons, egrets, and waterfowl who are slower and more still than flitting warblers and songbirds.

This outing is geared toward people who are curious about herons and their wee ones, those who enjoy water birds, and is especially great for people who are still learning how to spot birds; you will have great views of herons, egrets, and waterfowl who are slower and more still than flitting warblers and songbirds.

Did you know, listening to birds improves mental health?

We will concentrate on listening, finding the bird with our binoculars, and noticing field marks for identification. If we still can’t identify the bird we will use our apps and field guides.

Songbird populations are declining. We will discuss the importance of providing a place for migrating birds to rest, nest and find food.

In the Spring Woodcocks perform their mating dance called sky dance of the Timberdoodle.  If our group is fortunate, we will see the sky dance performance. 

Calling all birdwatching enthusiasts! Learn important ways to enjoy the rewarding hobby of birding while ensuring their place in this world. Discover why bird populations are dwindling and how you can help reverse course in your own backyard. We will also discuss spring bird migration patterns, including when, where and how to spot different bird species. and we will take a short walk to visit the new Bird Murals in Hopkins and learn how art meets conservation with the Audubon Bird Mural Project in Hopkins.

Join us to learn about the advantages of birding by bike and see how many birds we can find along the waterbodies of southeast Minneapolis!

Kara Snow – Project Pileated Woodpecker: Characterizing Tree Cavity and Use by Minnesota’s Wildlife (One-year update!)

The Pileated Woodpecker is a keystone species in Minnesota’s forests, creating large cavities that many other wildlife species later use. In this talk, Ms. Snow will share an update from the first year of her Pileated Woodpecker project, including the methods we used to locate and monitor nesting cavities across a gradient of forest management.

Winter is traditionally storytelling season in our Native communities in Minnesota. Many Ojibwe legends (Aadizookaanag) honor our natural world, and Hope will share some of her favorites with us.

Attract even more birds to your yard with a handmade birdhouse.

Instructor Kurt will have cutting plans and materials ready for you to learn how to construct a simple birdhouse step-by-step. In one afternoon, participants will complete a birdhouse that can house bluebirds or tree swallows. Participants will also learn about how to attract bluebirds and tree swallows, maintain the birdhouse, and track nesting birds. Guidance will be provided for where to mount your birdhouse.

Attract even more birds to your yard with a handmade birdhouse.

Instructor Kurt will have cutting plans and materials ready for you to learn how to construct a simple birdhouse step-by-step. In one morning, participants will complete a birdhouse that can house bluebirds or tree swallows. Participants will also learn about how to attract bluebirds and tree swallows, maintain the birdhouse, and track nesting birds. Guidance will be provided for where to mount your birdhouse.

February love is in the air for Owls! We will listening and watching for Owls. Learn how they find their partners, their different courtship rituals, when they start nesting and when we can expect to start to see owlets!

February love is in the air for Owls! We will listening and watching for Owls. Learn how they find their partners, their different courtship rituals, when they start nesting and when we can expect to start to see owlets!

Rebecca Heisman promises that you’ll learn at least one new and surprising fact in this talk (probably more than one!) as we take a whirlwind tour of what birds are, where they came from, and how they breathe, fly, sing, sense the world around them, and more.

We will learn about Snowy Owl irruptions, why Snowy Owls love visiting MSP and how we can protect these beautiful Owls.